ESTATE PLAY AREA DECISION ON HOLD

RESIDENTS on the Swan Hill housing estate — the site of the former Wokingham Town FC ground — have given council bosses the red card for a scheme to build a playground that nobody wants.

The Finchampstead Road homeowners took their argument to the district council's development control meeting last week, and were given extra time before a final decision is made.

After hearing the pleas not to go ahead with the scheme, a grace period has now been granted.

Residents said they were worried a playground could attract vandalism from outside users, and said the proposed site also suffered from a potentially dangerous 20 ft drop, which is currently fenced off.

Now councillors on the committee will hold more "dialogue" with leisure officers and go on a site visit.

Original estate plans included provision for a play area for children but it still has not been built.

Now residents say they want the council to honour its promise of ‘Aiming for Excellence' by "doing things based on customer expectations", as stated in its own charter.

Dad Simon Jordan, who lives on the estate, said: "The field we have is fine.

"Any new play area would just encourage other children from elsewhere to hang around and cause trouble."

Developers are often charged by councils to provide a community facility to an area they build on as part of the planning process — known as planning gain, or a Section 106 agreement.

Mr Jordan added: "The council originally agreed to a play area and say they don't want to make a ‘dangerous legal precedent' by letting developers off."

Cllr Jack Earnshaw said at the meeting: "We have put a great deal of effort into securing a play area for this site.

"Residents should be careful what they wish for as although there are some problems with a play area, I would think that would be preferable to more houses."

Cllr Tina Marinos, supporting the residents, said: "There is a legal precedent, but I think the proposed play area would be dangerous and could become a target for vandals."